Brush construction



y 1962 A. L. LE FEBVRE ETAL 3,032,796

BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 27, 1959 INVEN TOR.

FEBVR E EA Qt. H FU LL ER Kenwood Ross ATTORNEY ALFRED L. La

ALvm o. souusou 4' United States Patent Ofiice 3,032,796 Patented May 8, 1962 3,032,796 BRUSH CONSTRUCTION Alfred L. Le Febvre, West Sulfield, Conn, and Alvin 0.

Johnson and Earl H. Fuller, Westfield, Mass., assignors to Stanley Home Products, Inc., Westfield, Mass., a

corporation Filed Aug. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 836,488 1 Claim. (Cl. 15205) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in structural refinements in a brush construction and is directed more particularly to the provision of abrush constructionhaving general utility in the arts and to an improvement in the means for disposing a layer of bristles inatransversely-extending manner between a pair of elongated frame members which are secured together in a back-forming bristle-clamping relation.

The invention resides in the. particular arrangement, construction and relationship of the various elements, components and instrumentalities of a brush construction as exemplified in the detailed disclosure hereinafter set forth wherein the objects of the invention as defined in the paragraphs below will be apparent.

The invention further comprises a method for providing an improved brush construction and consists of a method or process involving the relation of the several steps, the features of construction and arrangements of parts adapted to effect such steps, and the product of the method, all as exemplified herein.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an inventively novel and improved brush construction of the general type shown in US. Patent #2,826,777, dated March 18, 1958, and wherein there is specifically provided a greater concentration of or a greater number of bristles in a certain zone or certain zones longitudinally of the brush than in another adjacent zone or other adjacent zones.

It is another'object hereof to provide a brush construction having a multiplicity of bristles secured between metal back members, same being firmly secured therebetween to insure against displacement.

It is still another object hereof to provide a structure embodying a pair of elongated sheet metal plate members between which bristles are disposed with the said plate members being secured together in such manner as to clamp the bristles against displacement,

According to another novel feature of the invention the plate members are provided with elongated channels which are more or less complemental and which are so arranged as to coact to tightly grip or snub the bristles against displacement.

The plate members according to the invention may be of any length desired and they may have any desired transverse contour all so as to form brushes of different shapes for a multiplicity of different purposes.

Other of the chief objects and purposes hereof are to provide advantageous structural and operational features in a device of the class to which reference has been made so as to provide a device having the following meritorious characteristics: first, a simplicity in construction and therefore an adaptability to economical manufacture; second, a uniqueness in engineering design of coacting parts wherefor the components are coordinated for facile assembly and when once assembled are positively and securely retained in operative relationship and are not readily separable from each other either accidentally or otherwise; third, an ease of assembly; fourth, a high degree of efiiciency and dependability in its operational use; and fifth, the provision of such other improvements in and relating to brush constructions of the type above referred to. I

Further objects hereof are to provide a brush construction, conformable to the desideraita of the preceding paragraph and offering specific improvements in the various operating instrumentalities comprising same, which themselves are minimum in number, all to the end that it is simple and compact and provides distinct advantages in distinctiveness of appearance, practicalness of value, durableness of organization, and reliableness of operation. In addition to the practical advantages which we have herein before ascribed to our novel brush construction, it will be observable that a chief feature of the invention resides in the fact that the brush is well adapted to withstand the usage to which brushes are ordinarily subjected, compact arrangement of pants, conducive toward the provision of a device of small proportions, and ruggedness and durability, all being further desirable features that have been borne in mind in the production and de-' velopment hereof. 1 I

With-these and other objects and advantages in view, some of which will be in part obvious and apparent and some of which will be in part more fully pointed out, and

- to the end of attaining these and any other object and advantage hereinafter reasonably appearing, it will be explained that the invention consists substantiallyin the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, as described in detail hereinafter, asjshown in the annexed drawing, and as defined with particularity in the appended claim forming a part hereof.

It should be understood that this physical embodiment is only indicative of but one of the various ways albeit the preferred exemplification, in which the principles of the invention may be employed and in which the component parts may be combined and arranged. The invention is not restricted to said embodiment and same is not intended to be exhaustive of, nor limiting of, the spirit hereof. That is, the precise construction of the figures of the drawing need not be slavishly followed as, of course, the brush construction may have to be adapted or modified in accordance with a specific use to which it is to be put. All of this will be obvious to those who are skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and who will understand that same may be incorporated in any one of several constructions.

The protection which is sought for this invention is covered by the language of the specification and the spirit The essential point of the invention lies in the provision of a thickened zone of bristles in one area or section of the brush. The invention accordingly embraces broadly the concept of one or more such thickened zones. It will be helpful to an understanding hereof first to briefly consider some of the more important features and aspects thereof, so that same may be kept in mind during the subsequent reading of the detailed description.

' The existing practice in the trade, as exemplified by the known prior art, is to make a brush wherein a fullness within a certain zone, such as at an end of a brush, is lacking. Brushes heretofore known all have this common objection. In contradistinction, we have devised a novel means whereby this deficiency is overcome. We accomplish this by the provision of a device wherein there is a relatively greater concentration of bristles, or a greater number of bristles, in a certain zone or zones along the brush than in other zones therealong.

The description which follows is of an exemplary form of the invention with a view to illustrating and explaining the precise nature of the aforedescribed principles and their embodiment for practical use. Hereby, others skilled in the art may be enabled to adapt and modify same in numerous embodiments, variations and modifications, each as may be best adapted to the conditions of any particular use. It is premised, however, that such variations and/ or adaptations and/ or modifications should be and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the below subjoined claim, there being no intent to have this invention limited to or circumscribed by any specific details of materials, dimensions or the like.

The salient features which we consider to be characteristic of our invention, as to its construction and organization and as to its methods of manufacture and operation, will be best understood from a consideration of this detailed description. In the drawing, forming another part of this specification, like characteristics of reference or numerals are employed to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the upper or outer frame member of the backing component of the invention in the open or expanded position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevationalview of the' upper or outer frame member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side elevational view of the lower or inner frame member of the backing component;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the lower or inner frame member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a broken sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the backing component with the upper or outer frame member thereof being in the closed or folded position;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the backing component shown in FIG. 6 and showing the upper or outer and lower or inner frame members in the secured-together bristle-clamping relation;

FIG. 8 is a transverse-sectional view on the line 8-8 FIG. 9 is a broken top plan view of the backing component shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the secured-together relationship of the upper or outer and lower or inner frame members; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line Til 10 of FIG. 9.

Before the structure here illustrated is specifically described, it is to be again emphasized that this invention is not limited to the structural details or arrangement of parts here shown since a brush construction embodying the present invention may take various forms. We do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but rather intend to embrace herein all modifications, variations, alternative constructions, and equivalents as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention and within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of this disclosure. 7

With continued reference now to the drawing, we have shown a brush backing in order that the general relation and utility of the brush construction may be better understood. Same is shown without the brush bristles per se as being incorporated therewith, all for purposes of simplification.

The brush backing with which the invention may be advantageously incorporated is shown as comprising an upper or outer frame member and a lower or inner frame member. Same may be of any desired lengths and may be formed in long lengths for purposes of cutting into a plurality of shorter lengths.

An elongated upper or outer frame member is represented generally by 2. Same has a central longitudinal portion 4 and a pair of'spaced longitudinal side or skirt portions 6.

An elongated lower or inner frame member is represented generally by 8 and, in cross section, is of channel shape so as to have an intermediate upper wall 10, and

4 a pair of oppositely spaced downwardly depending side walls 12.

Opposite end portions of the member 8, generally indicated by 14, while being of channel shape in cross section, have upper walls 16 displaced in a horizontal plane downwardly of the horizontal plane of the said upper wall 10. Also, said end portions 14 have side walls 18 of less transverse width than the side walls 12.

It will be understood that either the so-called upper or outer plate or the so-called lower or inner plate may be disposed outermost in a formed brush depending upon the form of the brush and the manner in which it is to I e associated with other of the brush components.

The central portion 4 of the frame member 2 is provided with longitudinally spaced tongue receiving apertures 20 disposed therealong' for receiving prongs or tongues 22 which are stuck up from or out of the upper wall 10 of the frame members in a manner so as to be receivable each in one ofthe apertures 20.

End prongs 24 are provided on opposite ends of the frame member 8 and are receivable in notches 26 provided in opposite ends of the frame member 2.

The frame members 2 and 8 cooperate to form a bristle holding backing component. I V

In forming a brush, a layer of bristles in desired quantity is extendable transversely between the frame members 2 and 8. That is, the desired amount of bristles is laid transversely across one of the frame members and the other of the frame members is disposed on the bristles.

The prongs 22 of frame member 8 extend through the apertures 20 of frame member 2 and are turned over onto the central portion 4 thereof. The end prongs 24 extend through the notches 26 offrame member 2 and are turned inwardly over onto the central portion 4 of said frame member 2. Then, the side skirts 6 of the frame member 2 are turned downwardly, as indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In this assembling method, the tongues of one frame member are extended between the bristles and through the sockets of the other frame member. The frames are then pressed together to the desired extent and the ends of the tongues are staked or clenched over so as to firmly secure the frame members together in bristle clamping relation.

A novel feature of the invention is that the channel formation of the frame members is arranged in the clamping relation of the plates so as to bend the bristles therebetween to some extent all so as to firmly snub the bristles against displacement. That is, the action of the channels is to form the bristles more or less in the shape of a U thereby to clamp them against longitudinal movement from between the frame members.

Such snubbing and clamping is a decided improvement over a construction where fiat plates are employed which press upon straight bristles wherefor the bristles are easily displaced when and as being pulled longitudinally.

By means hereof, bristles are clamped between the secured together frame members 2 and 8 in the well known manner, and end portions thereof extend from the so-called frame formed by the members 2 and 8.

The opposite ends of the member 8 have been described and the relationship of the walls of the inner and outer frame members 2 and 8 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 10.

The longitudinal section through the assembled frame members 2 and 8 illustrates the provision of greater spaces for bristles at the ends of the members 2 and 8 than the space intermediate the ends of the members. This permits the placement of a thicker layer of bristles between the ends of the members 2 and 8 in what may be called zones B and B than between said members in what may be called zone B. See FIG. 9.

It'may be understandably desired in some cases to provide for a thicker layer or layers of bristles between opposite ends of the members 2 and 8.

Said frame members 2 and 8 may additionally be provided with an opening 30 for a device to secure the brush backing to a handle, with other openings 32 for the same purpose, if desired.

The frame members may be of any desired length and of any relative transverse widths depending upon the form of brush to be produced.

Marginal edge portions of the frame members may be at various angles in order to direct the free ends of the bristles in such manner as may be desired. One frame member may be of greater transverse width than the other frame member so that the edge portions of said one frame member may be arranged to embrace opposite ends of the bristles.

Aside from providing the snubbing means, the channel of one frame member may receive the bent over tongues of the other frame member so that there are no projecting tongue portions along the one frame member and either the inner or outer frame member may be provided with apertures for receiving the tongues of the other frame member.

The frame members embodying the novel features hereof may be formed and arranged so as to provide brushes of various forms and sizes and following the assembly of the frame members and bristles the frame members may be otherwise formed or shaped as desired.

It will thus be appreciated that, by means of the construction hereof, there is provided a greater concentration of or greater number of, bristles in a certain zone or certain zones longitudinally of the brush than in another adjacent zone or other adjacent zones.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined, but useful embodiments may be produced involving less than the whole.

That is to say, the fullness within a certain zone B may be provided at one end of a brush only or at other points along the longitudinal axis thereof other than at the opposite ends, as illustrated.

The heart of the invention lies in the provision of a thickened zone of bristles in one area or section of the brush or in a plurality of such areas or sections. The broad concept is of one or more of such thickened zones wherein there is a relatively greater concentration of bristles, or a greater number of bristles, in a certain zone or zones along the brush than in other zones therealong.

Although our invention has been specifically described and illustrated herein with particular reference to a brush having opposite end portions having greater bristle concentrations, it should be appreciated that its utility and application extend beyond the particular type of brush illustrated and its broad scope and concept comprehend the useful and novel features set forth when combined with any type of brush having any appropriately positioned zone or zones of greater bristle concentration and thus, with respect to the scope of the invention, the foregoing material is to be considered as illustrative only.

It is to be further understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Although specific terms and expressions are employed for purposes of identifying various components, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation and are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. We have no intention, in the use of such specific terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, various modifications being recognized as entirely possible within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing is intended to so fully reveal the gist of our invention and its construction and operation that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of its generic and/or specific aspects. The substitution of equivalents and other changes, modifications and alterations as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, are contemplated since the invention is susceptible of such Without departing from its real spirit or underlying principles. Stated otherwise, it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact construction shown and described as the objects hereof may be attained by the use of constructions different in certain respects from that disclosed.

The invention is claimed, broadly as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claim, and same is desired to include within the scope thereof all of said suitable variations, modifications and equivalents by which substantially the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent devices or means. Accordingly, limitation hereof should only be made as determined by a proper interpretation of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

A brush construction comprising in combination, a pair of inner and outer cooperating elongated channel-shaped frame members in superposed relation, each of said frame members of the pair thereof having a generally horizontally-extending upper wall and generally vertically downwardly-extending side walls With the walls of the inner member spaced inwardly of those of the outer member, with opposite end portions of the upper wall of said inner member being spaced from the upper wall of the outer member a greater distance than portions intermediate said end portions, each of said horizontallyextending upper walls provided with similar longitudinal channels, said outer frame member provided with longitudinally spaced sockets along the channel thereof, and with notches in the opposite ends thereof, said inner frame member provided with tongues extending through said sockets and with end prongs receivable in said notches, said tongues and said end prongs being clenched over onto said upper frame member to secure said frame members together in clamping relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,817 Speese Feb. 9, 1915 1,306,308 McHenry June 10, 1919 1,566,511 Sorenson Dec. 22, 1925 2,787,017 Abbrecht Apr. 2, 1957- 2,826,777 Le Febvre Mar. 18, 1958 

